### J - S71044 - 18

NON - PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37 COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

v. DAVID EMPSON

Appellant : : : : : : : : : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF

PENNSYLVANIA

No. 2532 EDA 2017 Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence July 11, 2017 In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Criminal Division at No(s): CP - 51 - CR - 0010509 - 2015 COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

v. DAVID EMPSON

Appellant : : : : : : : : : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF

PENNSYLVANIA

No. 2594 EDA 2017 Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence July 11, 2017 In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Criminal Division at No(s): CP - 51 - CR - 0010518 - 2015 BEFORE: PANELLA, J., DUBOW, J., and NICHOLS, J. MEMORANDUM BY NICHOLS, J.: FILED FEBRUARY 1 9 , 2019 Appellant David Empson appeals from the judgment of sentence entered following his jury trial convictions for conspiracy, robbery, and terror istic threats. 1 

### Appellant claim s that the trial court erred by failing to grant his motion to suppress a statement he gave to police. We affirm.

_________________ ____________________ _______ 1 

### 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 903, 3701(a)(1)(i), and 2706(a)(1), respectively.

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The facts giving rise to Appellant’s conviction are not in dispute and are stated in detail in the trial court’s opinion. Appellant was arrested for the robbery of two different Rite Aid drugs tores , one on September 4, 2015 , and the second on September 6, 2015. Appellant was charged at two separate dockets. At docket CP - 51 - CR - 001050 9 - 2015, Appellant was charged with one count each of robbery, theft by unlawful taking, 2 

### receiving stolen property, 3 

### and terroristic threats for the robbery on September 6, 2015. At docket CP 51 - CR - 0010518 - 2015, Appellant was charged with three counts eac h of conspiracy, robbery, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, terroristic threats, possession of an instrument of crime (PIC), 4 

### simple assault, 5 

### and recklessly endangering another person (REAP) 6 

### for the robbery on September 4, 2015. On October 28, 2016, Appellant filed a motion to suppress , asserting, in part, 7 

### that he did not voluntarily give a statement to police . At the suppression

_________________ ____________________ _______ 2 

### 18 Pa.C.S. § 3921(a). 3 

### 18 Pa.C.S. § 3925(a).
4 

### 18 Pa.C.S. § 907(a).
5 

### 18 Pa.C.S. § 2701(a). 6 

### 18 Pa.C.S. § 2705.
7 

### The police searched the residence at the address associated with the vehicle Appellant used to travel to the robbery sites . Appellant challenged the results of the search, asserting that it was conducted without probable cause . The motion to s uppress the search results was litigated before the Honorable Kai

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hearing, t he Commonwealth introduced into evidence the form that Appellant signed in which he waived hi s Miranda rights before giving his statement to police. See N.T. 4/28/17, Suppression Hr’g, at 37 - 39 . On May 8, 2017, Judge Minehart denied Appellant’s motion to suppress his statement . See Order, 5/8/17. Following a jury trial in which Appellant was convicted of conspiracy, robbery, and making terroristic threats, Appellant was sentenced to a total of twenty - five to fifty years of incarceration. 8 

### Appellant filed a timely notice of appeal and concise statement of errors complained of on appeal under Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) , challenging the trial court ’s jury instructions, Judge Scott’s failure to immediately recuse herself, and the denial of his motion to suppress the evidence recovered from the search of the residence and the statement he gave to police. See Statement of Matters Complained of on Appeal, 9/15/17, at 1 - 2 (unpaginated). On appeal, Appellant challenges only the denial of suppression of his statement to police.

_________________ ____________________ _______ 

### Scott. On April 28, 2017, Judge Scott denied the motion regarding Appellant’s attempt to suppress physical evidence from the search of the house. See Order, 4/28/17. Also on April 28, 201 7, Judge Scott grant ed Appellant’s motion to recuse, since she had previously represented Appellant’s wife, Karima Choice, before becoming a judge. The matter was reassigned to the Honorable Jeffrey P. Minehart, who heard the motion to suppress regarding Appellant’s statement to police. 8 

### The robbery convictions subjected Appellant to a “third - strike” sentence for a third or subsequent crime of violence. See 42 Pa.C.S. § 9714(a)(2). Appellant was previously convicted of two other robberies . See N.T. Sentencing, 7/11/17, at 8.

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Appellant rai s es one issue for our review: “Whether the trial court erred in failing to grant the motion to suppress Appellant’s statement [.] ” Appellant’s Brief at 3. Appellant asserts that [g]iven the totality of the circumstances, Appellant[] did not knowingly, voluntarily a nd intelligently waive his Miranda rights regarding the statement that he gave. The police kept Appellant in a holding cell 8 hours prior to Appellant giving his statement. Appellant was not given anything to eat and he could not eat as he testified that he was on Methadone, he had not received his medication and his stomach was all messed up. He was under the influence of drugs and alcohol prior to his arrest and he was going through withdrawal symptoms. In addition[,] Appellant suffered from mental il lness, bipolar and schizophrenia. Appellant was concerned that his 11[ - ]year[ - ]old son would not have a parent to take care of him as he and his son’s mother were both arrested. Appellant pleaded for the release of his child’s mother so that his son coul d go to school and told the detective that he would say or sign anything if his child’s mother was released. Although the detective responded that he would see what he could do, under the circumstances, the detective coerced Appellant into giving his stat ement and/or given Appellant’s physical and psychological health where he was held for 8 hours in a holding cell and undergoing withdrawal symptoms and had burning sensations in his chest, arms and legs and was taken to the hospital for an EKG, coupled wit h his expressed desire for his child to be reunited with his mother, Appellant’s waiver of his Miranda rights cannot be said to be knowing, voluntary and intelligently entered into. Appellant’s Brief at 12 - 13 (citations omitted). When we review the denial of a suppression motion, the following principles apply: [O]ur initial task is to determine whether the [trial court ’ s] factual findings are supported by the record. In making this determination, we must consider only the evidence of the prosecution ’ s wit nesses, and so much evidence of the defense that remains uncontradicted when fairly read in the context of the

### J - S71044 - 18

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record as a whole. When the evidence supports the factual findings, we are bound by such findings; we may reverse only if the legal conclusions d rawn therefrom are erroneous. Commonwealth v. Bryant , 67 A.3d 716, 724 ( Pa. 2013) (citation omitted). We note that t he test for determining the voluntariness, and thus the admissibility, of an accused ’ s statement is the totality of the circumsta nces surr ounding the statement. The mere fact that there is some passage of time between when an accused is arrested and when he or she gives an inculpatory statement does not constitute grounds for suppression of the statement. This Court has set forth the followi ng numerous factors that should be considered under a totality of the circumstances test to determine whether a statement was freely and voluntarily made: the duration and means of interrogation, including whether questioning was repeated, prolonged, or ac companied by physical abuse or threats thereof; the length of the accused ’ s detention prior to the confession; whether the accused was advised of his or her constitutional rights; the attitude exhibited by the police during the interrogation; the accused ’ s physical and psychological state, including whether he or she was injured, ill, drugged, or intoxicated; the conditions attendant to the detention, including whether the accused was deprived of food, drink, sleep, or medical attention; the age, education, and intelligence of the accused; the experience of the accused with law enforcement and the criminal justice system; and any other factors which might serve to drain one’ s powers of resistance to suggestion and coercion. Id. (citations omitted). Regarding the length of time a defendant is in custody before giving a statement , we note that in Bryant , the appellant was in custody for approximately thirty hours before giving his statement to police. Id. at 725. The mere passage of time did not prec lude the appellant’s inculpatory statement from being admissible. Id. As to drug use and mental illness, neither is an automatic ground for suppression, particularly where the

### J - S71044 - 18

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defendant is coherent and does not show signs of mental illness. See Commonwe alth v. Ventura , 975 A.2d 1128, 1138 (Pa. Super. 2009) (“ [W]hen evidence of impairment is present, it is for the suppression court to decide whether the Commonwealth has established by a preponderance of the evidence that the suspect nonetheless had suffic ient cognitive awareness to understand the Miranda warnings and to choose to waive his rights.” (citation omitted)); Commonwealth v. Mitchell , 105 A.3d 1257, 1267 (Pa. 2014) (“[T]here is no per se rule that a defendant’s waiver of his constitutional rights is defective merely because his mental illness distorts [the] defendant’s perceptions of reality.”). Instantly, after our careful review of this matter, we conclude that the trial court’s factual findings are supported in the record , and the court aptly analyzed the totality of the circumstances . Moreover, we discern no error in the court’s legal conclusion that Appellant’s statement was given voluntarily . See Bryant , 67 A.3d at 724 . Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of sentence on the basis of the w ell - reasoned opinion of Judge Jeffrey P. Minehart, filed on October 16, 2017. See Trial Ct. Op., 10/16/17, at 9 - 13. Judgment of sentence affirmed.

### J - S71044 - 18

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Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq. Prothonotary

Date: 2/19/19Circulated 01/30/2019 03:59 PM 

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b y v a c an t l o t. Th e 

### o ffi c e r s s t o p pe d d e f e n d an t fo r inv e s t i g at i o n an d
ra d i o e d th at th e y ha d d o n e s o . S o o n th e r ea ft e r , M r . C h e ru b i n arri v e d an d i d e n ti fi e d d e f e n d an t. D e f

e n d an t w a s p l a c ed un d e r arr e st an d tr an s p o rt e d t o 

### 3 f h D i s tri c t p o l i c e
s t at i o n . F o ll o w i n g h i s ar r e s t , d e f e n d an t w a i v e d h i s r i g h t s un d e r M i r an d a , an d g av e p o li c e
a 

### s tat e m e n t I n th at s t at e m e n t d e f e n d an t a dm i tt ed th at h e 

### w as th e p e r s o n w h o r o b be d th e R i t e A i d s t o r e s o n S e p t e mb e r 4 an d 6 , 2 0 1 5 , an d w h o h a d g o n e t o th e Ri t e A i d o n 

### W i n dri m A v e n u e o n S e p t e mbe r 7 , 2 0 1 5
. D uri n g th e i n t e rv i e w d e f e n d an t i d e n t i fi ed th e
n o t e g i v e n t o M s . S t i n s o n 

### b y th e m a l e a s th e o n e h e h an d e d t o th e c a s h i e r d uri n g th e S e p t e mbe r 4 , 2 0 1 5 , ro b be ry . P h i la d e l p h i a P o li c e D e t e c t i v e Ju st i n F a l co n e w as a s s i g n e d a l o n g w i th o th e r d e t e c t i v e s t o i nv e s t i g at e th e thre e i n c i d e n t s o u t l i n e d a b o v e . I n th e c o ur s e o f d o i n g s o , s e ar c h w arr ant s w e r e o b t a i n e d fo r M s . C h o i c e ' s r es i d e n ce an d fo r th e B u i c k R e g a l. Th e 

### s e ar c h o f th e c ar y i e l d e d a b l a c k b ur q a s ty l e fa c e m as k
. F ro m th e h o u s e , p o li c e s e i ze d thr e e p a c ks o f N e wp o rt c i g ar e tt e s , tw o fi r earm m a g a zin es , ammuni t i o n , p ro o f o f
r e s i d e n c e fo r d e fe n d ant an d K ar i m a C h o i ce , an d a b l a c k , M u s l i m typ e g arm e n t , w h i c h
w as fo un d i n a be dr oo m 

### in th e r es i d e n c e .
5P o l i c e d e t e c t i v e s a l s o o b t a i n ed s urv e ill an c e v i d e o s fr o m th e tw o Ri t e A i d s t o r e s .

T h e y r e c o r d e d a ll thr e e i n c i d e n ts a s w e ll a s th e 

### p e i pe trat o rs an d v i d e o s o f th e v e h i c l e
u s e d d urin g th e i n c i d e n ts . Th e v e hi c l es u s e d in ea c h o f th e i n c i d e n t s ap pear ed i n th e
v i d e o s a p p e are d t o b e s i m i J ar . 

### D I S C U S S I O N 

### In th e fi rs t c o mp l a i n t se t fo rth i n h i s 1 9 2 5 ( b ) s tat e m e n t , d e fe n d an t a s se rt s th at th i s C o u rt e rr e d 

### b y r e fu s i n g a r e qu e s t th a t th e 

### j ury b e i ns tr u c t ed o n s e c o n d
- d e gr e e r o b b e ry
w i th r e s p e c t t o th e r o b be ry th at o c c urr e d o n S e p t e mb e r 6 , 2 0 1 5 , b e c au s e th e ro b b e r sa i d ,

" D o w h at I w an t , l a in ' t try i n g t o hurt y o u . ' ? D e f e n d an t' s 1 9 2 5 ( b ) S tate m e n t , Is s u e 1. N o r e l i e f s h o u l d b e gr an t e d w i th r e s p ec t t o th i s c l a i m b e caus e th e e v i d e n c e fa i l e d t o
s u p p o rt th e g i v i n g o f th e c h ar g e re qu e s t e d b y d e fe n dan t. T h e l aw i s cl e ar th at a tr i a l c o urt i s o n l y r equ i r e d t o g i v e a j ury i n s tru c t i o n o n an
o ff e n s e w h e n th e e v i d e n c e w o u l d r e a s o n a b l y s u p po rt s u c h a v e r d i c t. C o mm o nw e a lth v . W a l k e r , 3 6 A. 3 d 1 , 1 5 ( P a . 2 0 1 1 ) ; C o mm o nw e a lth v T h o m a s , 7 1 7 A
. 2 d 4 6 8 , 4 7 8 ( P a . 1 9 9 8 )
. W i th r e g ar d t o l e s se r in c l u d e d o ff e n s e s , a d e fe n d an t i s e n t i t l e d t o s u c h an i n s tr u c t i o n o n l y w h e n th e e v i d e n c e w o u l d pe rm i t th e j ur y r at i o n a ll y t o fi n d th e d e fe n d an t g u i l ty o f th e l e s s e r i n cl u d e d o ff e n s e b ut n o t th e gr e at e r o ff e n s e . C o mm o nw e a l th v . J. G
. T h o m a s , 5 4 6 A .2 d 1 1 6 > 1 1 8 ( P a . S u p e r . 1 9 8 8 ) 

### (

e n b a n e ], A p e r s o n i s g u il ty o f r o b b e ry a s a fe l o ny o f th e fi rs t d e g r e e i f , " i n th e c o ur s e o f
c o mm i tt i n g a th e ft , h e . . . 

### ( i i ) thr e at e n s an o th e r 

### w i th o r i n t e n t i o n a ll y p ut s h i m i n fe ar o f

5 T h e w i tn e s s t e s t i fi e d th at th e r o b b e r s a i d , " ' ' G i v e m e w h at 

### r w an t ; I ' m n o t try i n g t o hurt n o b o dy , j u s t g i v e m e w h at I w an t " (N
. T 5 / 9 / 1 7 , 4 2 )
. D e f e n d an t ' s r e c i t at i o n m h i s I 9 2 5 (b ) s tat e m e n t o f w h a t th e ro b b e r s a i d r s n o t qu it e c o rrec t. N e v e rth e l e s s , r eg ar d l ess o f w h at th e r o b b e r m ay h av e sa i d , n o e rro r oc c urr e d b y d e ny i n g d e fe n d an t ' s re qu e s t t o in s tr u c t th e j ury o n th e e l e m e nt s o f s e c o n d d e g r e e r o b b e ry fo r th e r e a s o n s d i s c u s s e d m th e b o d y o f th i s o p i n i o n 

### 6i mm e d i at e s e r i o u s 

### b o d i l y i n j ury . " 1 8 P a C
. S
. § 3 7 0 1 ( a ) ( l ) ( i i ) an d ( b )
. " S e r i o u s b o d il y in j ury " i s d e fi n e d a s " ( b [ o d i l y i n j ur y w hi c h c r eat e s a s ub s t an t i a l r i s k o f d e ath o r w h i c h
c au s e s s e r i o u s , pe rm an e n t d i s fi g ur e m e n t , o r p r o tr a c te d l o s s o r i mp airm e n t o f th e fun c t i o n
o f any b o d i l y m e mb e r o r o r g an . " 1 8 P a. C
. S
. § 2 3 0 1. 

### In c o n tr as t , r o b b e ry c o n s t i t ut e s a fe l o ny o f th e s e c o n d d e g r e e w h e n a pe r s o n. i n th e c o ur s e o f c o mm i tt i n g a th e ft , " i n fl i c t s bod i l y i n j ury u p o n an o th e r o r thr e at e n s an o th e r w i th o r i n t e n ti o na ll y p ut s h i m i n f ear o f i mm e d i at e b o d i l y i n

j ur y . " 1 8 P a . C
. S
. § 3 7 0 l ( a ) ( l ) ( i v ) ( e mp h a s i s ad d e d )
. " B o d i l y i n j ur y " i s d e fi n e d a s .. [ i

j mp a i rm e nt o f

p hy s i c a l c o n d i ti o n o r s ub s t an t i a l p a i n . " l 

### & P a . C
. S
. § 2 3 0 1
. I n s t an tl y , th i s C o urt s u gg e s ts th at th e d e f e n d an t ' s cl a i m b e d e e m e d l a c k i n g 

### in m e r i t b e c au s e th e e v i d e n c e d i d n o t s u p po rt th e g i v in g o f a c har g e o n s e c o n d
- d e g r e e r o b b e ry . T h e o n l y s u

p p o rt d e fe n d an t p r o v i d e s fo r thi s cl a i m i s h i s s e l f
- s e rv i n g s tat e m e n t th at h e
s a i d d ur i n g th e r o b b e ry th at h e w as n o t try i n g t o hurt any o n e . H o w e v e r , d e fe n d an t
c o nv e n i e n tl y o m i tt e d fr o m hi s l 9 2 5 ( b ) s tat e m e n t th at w he n M s . C art e r , th e v i c ti m o f th e
s e c o n d ro b b e r

y , w a s c o n fr o n t e d 

### b y h im , h e h a d h i s arm b e h i n d h i s b a c k , w h i c h m a d e M s . 

### C art e r v e ry n e rv o u s an d a f ra i d b e c au s e s h e b e li e v e d 

### that h e w as c o n c e a l i n g a w e a p o n . 

### (N
. T
. 5 / 9 / 1 7 , 4 2 )
. B y c o nv e y in g t o th e v i c t i m th at h e w a s arm e d , d e f e n d an t cl e arl y i n t e n d e d t o h av e M s . C art e r b e l i e v e th at i f s h e d i d n o t c o mp l y an d g i v e h im w h at h e
w an te d , h e w o u l d u s e w h at e v e r h e a p pe ar e d t o be hi d i n g be hi n d h i s b a c k t o c au s e h e r
s e r i o u s 

### b o d i l y in

j ur y . T h e thr e at w o rk e d b e cau s e d e f e n d an t ' s a c ti o n s m a d e M s . C art e r
n e rv o u s an d c au s e d h e r t o b e l i e v e th at 

### i f s h e fa i l e d t o c o mp l y w i th h i s re qu e s t th at h e w a s g o i n g t o h arm h e r . B ec au s e M s . Cart e r be l i e v e d th at s h e wa s g o i n g t o 

### be a s s au l t e d w i th a
w e a p o n , h e r b e li e f w a s s u ffi ci e n t t o fi n d th at th i s w as a thr e at l o i n fli c t s e r i o u s b o d il y

7i n

j ur y , n o t m e r e b od i l y i n

j ur y . T h e r e fo r e th e o nl y d e gr e e o f r o b b e r y r at i o n a ll y s u

p p o rt e d b y th e e v i d e n c e w a s th at o f fi r s t - d e g r ee . I n C o mm o nw e a lth v . T h o m as , T h o m a s ar g u ed th at h e w a s e n t i t l e d t o a c h ar g e o n
s e co n d d e gr e e r o b b e r

y b e cau s e h e ha d n o t b e e n arm e d w h e n h e c o mm i tte d th e r o b be ry at i s s u e a s h e o nl y h a d a l ar g e l oc k un d e r h i s s h i rt t o si mu l at e po s s e s s i o n o f a g un . T h e S u p e r i o r C o urt r e

j ec t e d th i s c l a im , e xp l a i nin g : I n s i mu l ati n g th e p o sse s s i o n o f a g un , a p pe ll an t w as cl e arl y a i m i n g t o i n s t ill i n h i s v i c t i m s th e h i g h e s t d e g r e e o f f e ar . F a c e d w i th a d ea d l y w e a po n , a v i c t i m f

e ar s , n o t j us t th at h e o r s h e m ay b e i n j ur e d d urin g th e r o b b e ry , b ut th at h i s o r h e r v e r

y 

### Ji fe i s i n d an g e r . Ap pe ll an t d i d n o t s i mp l y i n t e n d th at th e v i c t i m s ' f ear o f s o m e bod i l y i n

j ury w o u l d p r e v e n t r e s i s t an c e ; rath e r , h e r e l i ed o n th e thr e at o f a d e a d l y w e a p o n t o i n s ur e c o mp li an ce . 5 4 6 A. 2 d at 1 1 8
. T h e C o urt c o n c l u d ed T h o m a s ' s c r i m e wa s n o t m a d e l e s s s eri o u s 

### b y th e fa c t h e d i d n o t p o s s e s s a " r e a l " gun , b ut w as o n l y s i mu l ati n g o n e , an d thus h e l d 

### " i t w o ul d b e b o th i rr at i o n a l an d c o n tr ar y t o th e a im s o f th e [ r o b b e ry ] s tatut e fo r th e j ur y t o b e p e rm i tt e d t o fi n d a

p p e ll an t , w h o ca l c u l at ed th at h i s v i c t i m s w o u l d b e i n m o rt a l f e ar o f a d e a d l y w e a

p o n , g u i l ty o n l y o f

th e l e ss e r o ff

e n s e o f thr e at e n i n g m e r e b o d il y in j ury , b ut n o t 

### g u il ty o f thr e at e n i n g s e r i o u s 

### b o d il y i n j ury . " 

### T d
. at 1 1 9
. S e e a l s o C o mm o nw e a l th v . H ur d , 

### 4 0 7 A
. 2 d 4 1 8 , 4 2 0 (P a . S u pe r . 1 9 7 9 ) 

### ( b y p l a c i n g h an d i n po c k e t an d p o i n tin g 

### i t at v i c t im

m ani fe s t e d th at ro b b e r i n t e n d e d t o p ut v i c t i m i n fe ar o f s e r i o u s b o d i l y harm )
. I n s t an t l y , a s i n T h o m a s , 

### it w o u l d hav e b e e n " i rr at i o n a l an d c o n tr ar y t o th e a i m s o f th e [ ro b b e r

y ] s t at ut e " fo r th e 

### j ury t o fi n d d e fe n d an t 

### gu il ty o f s e c o n d d e gr e e r o b b e ry g i v e n th e i n fe r e n c e r a i s e d b y h i s a c t i o n s d uri n g th e r o b b e r

y .



### 8A c c o r d i n g l y , th e c o urt p r o pe rl y d e n i e d d e f e n d an t ' s r equ e s t t o c h ar g e th e j ur y o n
s e c o n d
- d e g r e e r o b b e ry , an o ff e n s e n o t s u

p p o rt ed b y th e e v i d e n c e . 

### T n h i s s e c o n d an d l a s t c l a i m i nv o l v in g 

### th i s C o urt , d e fe n d an t ar g u e s th at th i s C o urt
e rr e d b y d e ny i n g h i s m o t i o n t o s u p p r e s s h i s i n c u l p at o ry s t at e m e n t t o th e p o l i c e b e c au s e 

### it
w a s n o t g i v e n v o l un tar il y . I n s u p p o rt o f th i s c l a i m , d e f e n d an t c o n t e n d s th at h e d i d n o t g i v e th e s t at e m e n t v o l unt ar i l y b e c au s e h e w as su ff e r i n g fr o m m e n t a l i ll n e s s an d w a s
un d e r th e i n fl u e n c e o f dru g s at th e t i m e h e t e n d e r e d h i s s t at e m e n t an d b e c au s e h e f e lt th at h e h a d t o c o n f

e s s b e c au s e h i s w i f

e h a d al so b ee n arr e s t e d an d h e w a s a fr a i d fo r th e
w e l far e o f h i s c h il d , w h o h a d n o o n e t o t ak e car e o f h i m d u e t o th e ar

r e s t s . D ur i n g th e s u

p p r e s s i o n h e ar i n g , D e t ec t i v e B r i an S an d e r s t e s t i fi e d th at h e wa s
a s s i g n e d t o i nv e s t i g ate th e tw o r o b be ry i n c i d e n t s o utl i n ed ab o v e an d i n th e c o ur s e o f d o i n g s o h e an d a D e t e c t i v e V a l e n t i n o cam e i n c o n ta c t w i th d e f e n d an t i n s i d e a p o l i c e
s t at i o n o n S e p t e mb e r 7 , 2 0 1 5 , at a bo u t 3 : 44 p . m . 6 D e fe n d an t w as p l a c e d i n D e t e c t i v e V a l e n t i n o ' s c ub i cl e at w h i c h t i m e D e t e c t i v e V a l e n t i n o , i n D e t e c t i v e S an d e r s p r e s e n c e , o r a ll y g av e d e f

e n d an t M i r an d a w arni n g s . D e fe n dant w as th e n as k e d th e s e v e n qu e s ti o n s p o s e d t o as c e rt a i n w h e th e r an i n t e rvi e w e e un d e r s t o od h i s ri g h t s an d w a s w a i v i n g th e m
v o l un t ar i l y . D e fe n d an t r e s p o n d e d t o th e m i n a m ann e r man i f e s t i n g th at h e un d e rs t o o d h i s
r i g h t t o r e m a i n s i l e n t an d w an t e d t o w a i v e th e m an d g i v e a s t at e m e nt. D e fe n d an t , w h o
a p p e ar e d t o b e c o h e r e nt an d w a s c a l m an d p l e a s an t an d w h o w as fu ll y c o o p e r at i v e w i th th e d e t e c t i v e s , w a s g i v e n w at e r an d w a s n o t thr e at e n ed , p ro m i s e d anyth i n g , o r c o e r c e d i n

6 D e f e n d an t w a s b ro u gh t t o th e s t at i o n at ab o ut 8 : 3 0 a . m . , an d w a s h e l d i n th e s tat i o n ' s c e ll ro o m un t il a b o ut 3 4 4 p m . 

### 9any w ay t o w a i v e h i s r i g h t s o r t o g i v e a s t at e m e n t. 7 A l th o u g h h e a p p e ar e d n o t t o b e un d e r th e i n fl u e n c e o f dru g s o r a l co h o l , d e fe n d an t s a i d h e w as b ut 

### that h e w a s c a p a b l e o f

an s w e r i n g s i mp l e qu c s t i o n s . 8 A ft e r d e fe n d an t w a i v e d · th e M i r an d a r i g h t s , h e g av e a p o l i c e a fo ur - p a g e s t at e m e n t , d ur i n g th e i n t e rv i e w , w h i c h c o n c l u d e d a b o u t 4 : 2 4 p . m . O n c e th e i n t e rvi e w e n d e d an d th e
s t at e m e n t w as c o mp l e t e , d e fe n d ant w a s g i v e n an o p p o rt un i ty t o r e v i e w th e s t at e m e n t an d
m ak e c o rr e c t i o n s o r am e n dm e n t s . Up o n r e v i e w i n g i t d e fe n d ant d i d m ak e an a d d i t i o n t o th e s t at e m e n t. H e a l s o s i g n e d ea c h p a g e o f th e s t at e m e nt an d th e p a g e s u p o n w h i c h h i s
r e s p o n s e s t o th e s e v e n qu e s t i o n s c o n c e rn i n g th e M i r an d a w arn i n g s w e r e r e c o r d e d
. D e fe n d an t t e s t i fi e d d

ur i n g th e s u

p p r e s s i o n h e ar i n g . H e i n d i c at e d th at h i s w i f e w as t ak e n i n c u s t o dy w h e n h e w a s an d th at h i s th e n e l e v e n y e ar - o l d s o n w i tn e s s e d th e 

### arr e s t. H e a c c u s e d D e t e c t i v e V a l e n t i n o o f thr e at e n i n g h i m th at 

### i f h e d i d n o t " c o m e c l e an " h i s
w i f e w o u l d n o t b e l e av i n g th e p o l i c e s t at i o n an d s ai d th at h e t o l d D et e c t i v e V a l e n t i n o th at \ h e h a d a s o n an d b e g g e d h i m t o l e t h e r g o s o s h e c o ul d t ak e h i s s o n t o s c h o o l th e n e x t d ay . D e f

e n d an t furth e r t e s t i f

i e d th at h e w a s t ak e n t o a h o sp i t a l a ft e r h e w as arr e s t e d an d p r i o r t o th e i n t e rv i e w fo r a p e rc e i v e d h e art p ro b l e m h e h a d b e e n s u ff e ri n g fr o m fo r a
c o u p l e o f d ay s . H e a l s o r e l at e d th at h e w a s t ak in g s e v e r al p r e s c r i b e d m e d i c at i o n s an d d i d

7 Wh i l e c r o s s - c x arn i nu i g D e t e c t i v e S an d e r s , d e f e n se co un s e l att e mp t e d to s u g g e s t th at th e d e te c t i v e s u s e d th e arr e s t o f d e f

e n d ant ' s w i f

e an d th e e x i s t e n ce o f h i s c h i l d a s l e v e r a g e t o o b ta i n a s t at e m e n t fr o m d e f e n d an t De t e c ti v e s an d e r s d e n i ed th e a c c u s ati o n an d s a i d th at h e w a s n o t aw ar e th at h e h a d a c h i l d
. 8 O n c ro s s -e x am i n at i o n , D e t e c t i v e S an d e r s t es ti fi e d th at d e fe n d ant s a i d th at h e w a s un d e r th e i n fl u e n c e o f a lc o h o l , M e tha d o n e , an d O x y c o nt i n an d c o mm i tt ed th e ro bbe ri es t o g e t dru g s T h e d e t e c t i v e c o n c e d e d th at h e d i d n o t c o n s i d e r d e f

e n d an t c o u l d b e s u ff

e r i n g fr o m w i th draw a l h av i n g b e e n i n c u s to dy fo r s e v e ra l h o ur s . H e a l s o c o n c e d e d th at d e f e n d ant w a s n o t a s k e d if b e was s u ff e ri n g fr o m a m e n t a l ill n e s s . T h e d e t e c ti v e i d i n d i c at e th at d e f

e n d an t w a s a s k e d wh e th e r h e w anted t o say any th i n g e l s e an d d i d n o t m e nt i o n a c h il d o r m e nt a l h e a l th i s s u e s . 1 0

### n o t r e c e i v e h i s p r e s c r i p t i o n s th at d ay . 9 

### H e i n d i cat ed th at h e s u ff e r e d fr o m s c h i z o p hre n i a
an d w a s b i p o l ar . H e a d d ed th at h e h a d s u ff e r e d a h e a d i n

j ur y w h i l e w o rk i n g w i th h i s fath e r an d th at s h o rt l y p r i o r t o h i s arr e s t, s e v e ra l m e mb e r s o f h is w i fe ' s fam i l y d i e d fr o m dru g o v e r d o s e s , w h i c h r e qu i r e d h i m t o tak e o v e r 

### fam il y d uti e s an d r e sp o n s i b i l i t i e s b e c au s e s h e 

### c o u l d n o t fun c t i o n . 

### T h e l aw p r o v i d e s th at a s u s p e c t m ay w a i v e h i s r i g h t t o r e m a i n s i l e n t an d p r o v i d e a
s t at e m e n t to 

### p o li c e , b ut th at th e w a i v e r mus t be 

### kn o w i n g , v o l un t ar y an d i n te lli g e nt. C o mm o nw e a l th v . D e J e s u s , 7 8 7 A. 2 d 3 9 4 , 4 0 1 2 ( P a. 2 0 0 1 ) , 

### c e r t
. d e n i e d , 5 3 7 U
. S
. 1 0 2 8 ( 2 0 0 2 )
. " I n o th e r w o r d s , th e w a i v e r mu s t be ' th e p r o d u c t o f a fr e e an d d e li b e r at e c h o i ce
r ath e r th an i n t i m i d at i o n , c o e r c i o n , o r d e c e p t i o n .' 

### an d ' mu s t h av e b e e n 

### m a d e wi th a 

### fu ll
aw ar e n e s s b o th 

### o f th e 

### n at ur e o f 

### t i i e 

### r i g h t be i n g ab an d o n e d an d th e c o n s e qu e n c e s o f th e d e c i s i o n t o a

b an d o n 

### i t .' " I d
. ( c i t at i o n o m i tt e d )
. 

### In d e t e rmi n i n g w h e th e r t o s u p p r e s s a
c o n f e s s i o n . " th e t o u c h s t o n e i n qu i ry i s w h e th e r th e c o nf e s s i o n w a s v o l un t ary , " an d
v o l un t ar i n e s s i s d e t e rm i n e d aft e r r e v i e w i n g th e t o ta l i ty o f th e c i r c um s t an c e s s urr o un d i n g th e c o n f e s s i o n C o mm o nw e al th v . N e s t e r , 7 0 9 A. 2 d 8 7 9 , 8 8 2 ( P a . 1 9 9 8 )
. 

### In a s s e s s i n g th e t o t a li ty o f th e c i r c um s t an c e s , th e c o urt s h o u l d c o n s i d e r th e fo ll o w i n g fa c t o r s : th e d ur at i o n
an d m e an s o f i n t e rr o g at i o n ; th e d e f e n d ant ' s p hy s i c a l an d p s y c h o l o g i c a l s t at e , th e
c o n d i t i o n s att e n d an t t o th e d e t e n t i o n ; th e atti t u d e o f th e i n t e rr o g at o r ; an d any o th e r fa c t o r s th at c o u l d dr a i n a p e r s o n ' s r e s i s tan c e t o su g g e s t i o n an d c o e r c i o n . D e J e s u s , s u p ra ,

9 D e f e n d an t s t at e d th at h e w a s h i k i n g M e th a d o n e , P e r c oce ts , an d X an a x , an d Ri s p e r d a l , a ll n f w h i c h h a d b e e n p r e s c ri b e d fo r h i m , an d th at h e w a s t ak i n g m o r e th an th e p r e s c r i b e d d o s a g e s at th e t i m e o f th e i n c i d e n t s h e r e i n . H e c o n c e d e d th at w h e n a s k e d w h at dru g s h e w a s tak i n g d ur i n g th e i n t e rv i e w h e d i d n o t m e n t i o n m any o f th e m an d th at h e h a d s t o p pe d tak i n g s o m e o f th e m . H e a l s o c o n c e d e d th at w h il e at th e h o s p i t a l , n o th i n g w a s fo un d w r o n g w i th h i m an d that h e was r e l e as e d w i th i n a h a l f h o ur o f arr i v i n g . 

### 1 17 8 7 A. 2 d at 4 0 3
. F urth e r , th e C o mm o nw ea lth b e ar s th e b ur d e n o f p r o v i n g th at th e

d e fe n d an t v o l un t ar il y c o n f e s s e d
. N e s t e r , s u

p ra . 7 0 9 A. 2 d at 8 8 2
. Wh e n i mp a i r

m e n t o f a s u s p e c t i s an i s s u e , th e t e s t t o b e e mp l o y e d i s w h e th er th e d e f e n d an t , " h a d s u ffi c i e n t m e n ta l c a p a c i ty at th e t i m e o f h i s [ m aki n g th e s tat e m e nt s ] t o kn o w w h at h e w a s s ay i n g an d t o h av e v o l un t aril y i n t e n d e d t o s ay 

### i t. " C o mm o nw e a lth v . Edw ar d s , 5 5 5 A
. 2 d 8 1 8 , 8 2 6 ( P a . 1 9 8 9 ) , qu o t i n g Co mm o nw e a l th v . S m i th , 2 9 1 A. 2 d 1 0 3 , 1 0 4 

### ( P a . 1 9 72 )
. T hu s , th e fa c t th at a d e f en d an t b ad b e e n dr i nk i n g o r 

### w a s o th e r w i s e un d e r th e i n fl u e n c e o f 

### any p o t e n ti al l y m i n d
- al t e r in g s ub s t an c e b e fo r e an arr e s t d o e s n o t
aut o m at i c a ll y r e n d e r any s t at e m e n t s i n adm i ss i b l e . I d
. 

### I t i s furth e r n o t e d th at th at th e re i s n o 

### p e r s e ru l e th at an i n d i v i d u a l w i th a m e n t a l i ll n e s s o r d e fi c i e n c y i s i n c a p ab l e o f v a l i d l y w ai v i n g h i s c o ns t i tut i o n a l ri gh t s an d gi v i n g a
v o l un t ar y c o n fe s s i o n . C o mm o nw e a l th 

### v . Gl o v e r , 4 1 2 A 2 d 8 5 5 , 8 5 8 ( P a . 1 9 8 0 )
. R ath e r , th e d e t e rm i n at i o n a s t o w h e th e r a kn o w i n g , v o l un t ary an d i n t e ll i g e n t w a i v e r w as e ff e c t e d i s m a d e b y re v i e w i n g th e t o t a l i ty o f th e c i r c ums t an c e s . S e e N e s t e r , 7 0 9 A
. 2 d at 8 8 2 , 8 8 4 - 8 5 ( a l th o u g h d e f

e n d an t cl a i m e d h e w a s i n c o n fu s ed p s y c h o l o g i c a l s t at e w h e n h e
c o n fe s s e d t o r o b b e r

y , c o urt f

o un d t o t a l i ty o f c i r c um s t an c e s , i n c l u d i n g t e s t i m o ny 

### that d e fe n d ant w a s a l e rt an d a b l e t o an s w e r qu e s ti o n s in a co h e r e n t m ann e r , s u ffi c i e n t t o s h o w th at c o n f e s s i o n w a s v o l un t ary ) ; C o mm o nw eal th v . Lo g an , 5 4 9 A .2 d 5 3 1 , 5 3 7 ( P a . 1 9 8 8 ) ( p l ur a li ty ) ( d e s p i t e d e f

e n d an t ' s m e n ta l ill n e s s , th e C o urt fo un d th at th e w a i v e r o f r i g h t s
w a s kn o w i n g , v o l un t ar

y an d i n t e lli g e n t w h e r e un c o n te s t e d p o l i c e t e s t i m o ny s h o w e d th at d e f e n d ant w a s r e a d h i s M i r an d a r i g h ts , as k e d fo r c l ar i fi c ati o n an d s t at e d h e un d e r s t o o d
e a c h w arn i n g , th at h e c o u l d r e a d an d wr i t e an d d e n i ed r e ce n t dru g u s e , an d th at h e w a s
n o t c o e r c e d i n t o m ak i n g c o n fe s s i o n ) ; C o mm o nw ea l th v . B r a c e y , 4 6 1 A. 2 d 7 7 5 , 7 8 2 n . 7 1 2

### ( n o t i n g th at " a 

### p e r s o n w i th m e nt a l ill n es s i n c l u d i n g a h i s t o r y o f h a ll u c i n at i o n s an d d e l u s i o n s m ay b e 

### c a

p ab l e o f w a i v i n g h e r 

### co n s t i t uti o n a l ri g h t s " )
. H e r e , d e f

e n d an t m a i n t a i n s th at e v e n th o u g h h e w a s g i v e n M i ran da r i g h t s , 

### w h i c h h e w a i v e d a ft e r av e rr i n g th at h e un d e r s t o o d th e m , an d th e n s i g n e d th e w a i v e r fo rm , h i s
s t at e m e n t w a s n o t kn o w i n g l y , v o l unt ar i l y , an d i nt e lli g e n t l y p ro ff e r e d b a s e d o n th e
r e a s o n s c i t e d a

b o v e , n am e l y m e n t a l ill n e ss , dru g 

### u s e , an d c o e rc i o n b a s e d o n th e th e n
e x i s t i n g c i r c um s t an c e s . T h i s C o urt r e s pe c tf ul l y s u b m i t s th at a r e v i e w o f th e e v i d e n c e p r e s e n t e d at th e s u

p p r e s s i o n h ear i n g d o e s n o t su b s t ant i at e d e f

e n d an t' s cl a i m s an d i n s t ea d
s u p p o rt s th i s C o urt ' s c o n c h
.. 

### i s i o rr th at d e f

e n d an t ' s s t at e m e n t w a s d e t e rm i n e d t o b e n o t
s u p p r e s s i b l e . T h at c o n cl u s i o n i s p r e m i s e d o n th e fa c t th at d e fe n d an t fa il e d t o m e n t i o n a ll o f th e dru g s h e a ll e g e d h e w a s t ak i n g o r h i s m e n tal ill n e s s . It 

### i s a l s o b as e d o n th e c r e d i b l e t e s t i m o ny g i v e n b y 

### D e t ec t i v e S an d e rs th at d e fe n d an t d i d n o t a p p e ar t o b e un d e r th e i n fl u e n c e o r un aw ar e o f w h at w a s o c c urr i n g . A c co r d i n g l y , b a s e d o n th e s e r e a s o n s an d th e
r e a s o n s s e t fo rth b y 

### th i s C o urt fo ll o wi n g th e s u p p r e s s i o n h e ar i n g , 

### i t i s r e s p ec tfu ll y
s u g g e s t e d th at 

### i f th i s cl a i m i s ra i s e d o n a p p eal th at 

### i t b e d e e m e d l a c k i n g i n m e r i t. C O N C L U S I O N F o r th e fo r e g o i n g r e a s o n s , th e d e fe n d an t' s as s e rt i o n s o f e rr o r s h o u l d b e d i s m i s s e d fo r l a c k o f m e ri t an d th e o r d e r e n t e r e d i n th i s m att e r s h o u l d b e a ffi rm e d
..



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